Traffic controlling and regulating system for street crossings



TRAFFIC CONTROLLING AND l. W. SIMPSUN.

REGULATING SYSTEM FOR STREET CROSSINGS. APPLICATION mw wmv n. 192x.

Pafutedl Oct. 24h, 1922.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. W. STMPSON. TRAFFIC CONTBOLLING AND RESULATING SYSTEM FOR STREET CROSSINGS.

APPucATlpN' FILED mln/1 1. 1921.

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. ,.MNENNT F'. vv. SIMPSON. y TRAFFIC (JOIIITROLLIIIGy AND REGULATING SYSTE`IVIFORSTREET CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY Il. I92I.

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Application mcd may lll,

.To all whom 'it may' concern.'

Be it known that li, FRANK W. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States,'residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traiic Controlling and Regulating ySystems for Street Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to a system for the control and regulation of trafiic at street and roadway crossings in thickly populated-districts, and has for its principal object to provide for-positive means for the holding up of pedestrians and lvehicular trahie at street crossings in large cities and towns in one direction of travel, while'perf'mitting free and comparatively safe passage oi' pedestrians and vehicular tratiic in the other direction of travel.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a system of the character mentioned, and one of an extremely eiiicient and pra/ctical nature capable of being controlled or operated by a single operator, and which will functio in a manner to eliminate present day ha d or mechanical signal methods ot traiic regulation, and also prevent the numerous fatal accidents occurring from the utter disregard by. pedestrians and drivers of vehicles of such signals. l

A further object of the linvention is to provide for a system of street crossing gates for the. accomplishment of the desired objects and purposes ot theinvention, and

which Iare operable in a manner to alternately open and close the intersecting streets, so that one set of gates is moved to a position to prevent passage of both pedestrians and traffic beyond the building lines of one f ot' the streets, while. the others are moved simultaneously to open the sidewalks and roadways of the other of the streets for the straigl'it through crossing of pedestrians and trahc from one side of the crossing to the other, and for the turning of traic from either direction along the open street into the open side portions of the intersecting roadway of the closed intersecting street.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide for a syste-m of the type set forth,

and one which embodies a novel system oi electrical operation and control for the opening and closing movements of the crossing gate, as aforesaid, and, in addition there- 19m. Serial No. 463,470.

tofccrtainnovel features of automatic operatlonf of the several circuits making up suchsystem otelectrical operation.. With the foregoing advantages and o Jectsin view, and others which will be more readily apparent in the progress of the specltic description, the invention resides in the certain nove-l and useful construction and arrangement of parts and circuits as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth 1n the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which lFlgure 1 is a yciliagrami'lniticall plan Viewv of a street traffic and railwa crossing, show ing the preferred arrangement of the pedes- -trian and traic system of regulation therefor,

Fig. 2 isl a -side elevation of one of the gate units in position,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, l

Fig. 4r is a vertical section 'taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 ot Fig. 2, l

Fig. 6 is a section similar to that of Fig. 4l, but taken on the line 6-6 ot Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional det-ail taken on the line 'T--T of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical plan view of the electrical system of control and operation of the several gates of the traffic regulating system,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged diagrammatical View,

sponding parts 1n the several views thereof,

and more particularly to the showing of Fig. l, the reference letters and b indicate the ends of the sections ota street or roadway at opposite sides of a crossing space; c and d the ends of the intersecting'street or roadway; a and b the sidewalks at the opposite sides of the street sections a; and b, respectively; c and d the sidewalks at the opposite sides of the street sections c and d; and e, f, g, and h., the building lines of the tour corners at the point of intersection of tdt the streets a and b, and c and'd.' In general, the traffic regulating system comprises a set of four combined roadway and sidewalk gates, designated .generally as at 10, 11,y

12 and 13, and a set of four sidewalk gates, designated generally as at 14, 15, 16 and 17 the combined roadway and sidewalk gate 10 belng located, as shown in the present instance, at a point on the street curbing, of the street section a, in alinement with the building lines of the street sections c and d, and 1s adapted to 4close the right or .oncoming half of the roadway of the street section a, and the entire adjacent sidewalk section as; the combined roadwa and sidewalk gate 12 at the curbing o the street section b' in alinement with the building lines of thestreet sections c and d, and similarly closing the right or oncoming half of the roadway thereof, and the entire adjacent sidewalk b; the sidewalk gate 14 being similarly located at the curbing on the opposite side of the street section a, fromthe com- .bined gate 10, and acting to close the adjacent sidewalk a simultaneously with the operation of the latter; and the sidewalk gate 16 at the curbing opposite to the comblned gate 12 and operable therewith to close the adjacent sidewalk b. With the combined gates 10'and 12,l and the sidewalk gates 14 and 1'6 thus located and operably positioned to close the street sections a and b as indicated, the combined roadway and sidewalk ates 1l 'and 13, and the sidewalk gates 15 and sections c and al, and are positioned to perymit free passage. of pedestrians and traffic in both directions of vstraightaway travel therealong, the traffic wa being also opened to vehicles for right an left hand turning movements, from the street sections c and d, into the outgoing open half portions of the roadways ofthe street sections a and b, all

. of the possible turning ydirections of travel of vehicles being clearly indicated by the arrows as shown in Fig. 1. When the combined roadwa and sidewalk gates 10 and 12 and the sidewalk gates 14 and 16 are operated to inoperative position for the opening of the street roadway sections a and b and their sidewalks a. and b for the passage therealong of pedestrians and trafl fic, the combined `roadway and sidewalk 17, are similarly located on the street gates, as aforesaid, consequently, for the sake of facilitating the clear understanding of such construction, arrangement and operation of the same, only one of the combined roadwayrand sidewalk gates will be specifically described herein.

Referring particularly to Figs'. 2 to 7, inclusive, each combined roadway and sidewalk gate comprises a roadway gate section 18 and a sidewalk gate section 19, both of which are secured at their inner ends within a hollow post 20 positioned vertically of the curb-line at one side ,of a street section, as h ereinbefore stated, and each of these gate sections are o'f toggle lever construction, so as to be expanded and contracted outwardly and inwardl in opposite directionsY one from the ot er, through slotted openings formed in the vertical wall of the post 20. The inner end of the gate section 18 is provided with a vertically disposed bar 21, and has the lower free end of one of its tog le bars or levers 22 pivoted, as at 23, to 51e lower end thereof, and the free ends of certain of its other toggle levers or bars 24 and 25 are pivoted for slidin movements in slotways 26 and 27, respectlvely, formed in the bar 21, the slotway 26 being located at a point intermediate the opposite ends of the same, and the slotway 27 at the upper end thereof, which arrangement allows for the several of the toggle levers or bars of the gate 18 to fold or collapse one upon the other inwardly of the post. The forward or outer end of the gate section 18 is carried by a vertically disposed bar 28 which has one of the toggle levers or bars 29, of the gate, pivoted inwardly of the lower end thereof, as at 30, and certain of the other of the toggle levers or bars 31 and 32 pivoted for sliding movement in slotways 33 and 34, respectively, formed in the bar 28 simila-rly to the slotways 26 and 27 of the bar 21 within the post 20. The lower end of the bar 28 is provided with a roller 35 which is movable along a trackway 36 extending outwardlyy from the post 20 in a direction transversely of the roadway section of the street to a point on the longitudinal center of the latter, at which point is located a post 37 having a slotted opening in alinemnt with the trackway 36 and which is adapted to receive and house the bar 28, when the gate section 18 is projected outwardly fromthe post 20 to close the adjacent portion of the roadway of the street section against .the passage of traffic along the same. The side@ walk gate section 19 1s similarly connected at its inner end, within the post 20, by means of a 'slotted bar 38, both of the bars 21 and 38 being secured in position at opposite sides of the post` one slightly off'- set from the other, as by means of securing elements 21 and 38 respectively.

For operating the gate sections 18 and 19 vnascar' inwardly and outwardly of the post 20, an electric motor 40 is secured in position at, the' bottom of the post, at one side of the transverse center thereof, and has one end o't its shaft 41 projecting in a plane below and at right angles to that of the lower ends ot the oppositely disposed slotways in the post 20, which lower ends ot the slotways open into track channelways 42 and 43 extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, the

track channel 42 extending transversely of 4the roadway ofv the street section in alinement'with and connecting at its outer end with kthe trackway 36, and the track channel 42 transversely of the sidewalk with its outer end terminating at the building line thereof. The outer free end of the motor shat't 41 is journaled in a vertically disposed bearing standard 44, and has keyed on its intermediate portion a gear 45 arranged in mesh with the ear 46 carried on a counter-shaft 47 which 1s journaled'in position between the upper end of the bearing standard 44 and the casing of the motor 40, and parallel to and above the motor shaft 41. Keyed on thernotor shaft 41 isa sprocket 48 from which is trained a sprocket chain 49 extending outwardly ot the post and through the track channel 42 to the outer end thereof, where it is trained over a sprocket 50 journaled trans-` versely between the parallel side walls of the channelway 42 formed by a .pair ot oppositely disposed and spaced channel Iirons 51. Secured at'a pointapproximately intermediate the opposite ends of the gate section 18, is a vertically disposed bar 52, which connectsl certain of the toggle levers or arms thereofv after the manner of the end bars 21 and 28, and has its lower end projecting downwardly of the slotway formed between the channel irons 51, forming the track channel 42, and carrying thereon a pair of oppositely disposed rollers 53 operable in the channels of the irons 51. rll`he lower end of thebar 52 is forked to provide spaced parallel arms as shown'in Fig. 5, and these arms depend at opposite sides of the upper stretch of the sprocket chain 49, and are secured thereto, as at 54, at a point whereby the bar 52 is moved the length of lthe trackway 42 to and from a position within the complementa] slot of the post 2 0.l Likewise, a sprocket 55 is keyed on the countershaft 47, and around the same is trained a sprocket chain 56 extending through the sidewalk track or channelway 43, from a sprocket 57 journaled transversely of the opposite end thereof. A bar 58, similar `to the bar 52 on the, gate section 18, is secured on the outer tree end of the gate section 19, and has its lower end pro- ]ecting `into they track'channelway 43, and

'carrying thereon a pair of rollers 59 ar- .ranged 1n the channels of the oppositely disposed channel irons 51 forming the said track channelway`43. 'lhe'lower end of this 4slot' of the post 20.

Referring more particularly to Fi s. 8 and 9, the electrical control system tor t e operation ot thescveral combined roadway and vsidewalk'gates 10, `11, 12 and 1 3, and the sidewalklgatcs 14, 15, 16 and 17 is shown, and it is to be noted that the electric motors of the combined roadway and sidewalk gates 10 and 12, vand of the sidewalk gates 14 and 16are connected in circuit tor simultaneous operation, and that the combined roadwi-iyv and sidewalk'gates l1 and 13, and the sidewalk gates 15 and 17, are similarly connected in a separate circuit for simultaneous operation, the first named'l circuit being under the control of a combined starter and reversing rheostat or switching device 60, and the last named circuit under the control of a second and similar rheostat or switching device 61, which rheostat or switching devices 60 and 61A are to be located preferably .within a tower 62 disposed at the center of i main supply circuit, the negative side of the same being `designated as at 64, will flow lthrough conductor 65 to binding post 66 of the rheostat or switching device 60, through starting resistance 67, switch arm 68, segswitch 73, conductor 74 to motor lead, 75l

ot the motor of the sidewalk gate 14, by the conductor 76 to'l the motor lead 77 -of the combined roadway and sidewalk gate 12, by the conductor 78 to the motor lead 79 of the motor ot the sidewalk gate 16, land returning from motor lead 80 of the motor of the sidewalk gate 16 by conductor 81, from the motor lead 82 of the motoi1 of the combined roadway and sidewalk gate 12, by conductor 83 to motor lead 84 of the sidewalk gate 14, by conductor 85 to motor lead 86 of the lcombined roadway and sidewalk gate 10, by conductor 87V to binding post 88,

on the rheostat or switching device 60, and from thence to segment 89 through switch arm 90 to segment 91, and thence to binding post 92, and by conductor 93 back to the negative -side 64 of the main -supply circuit. This circuit will be thus completed when the rheostat., or switch arms 68 and' vment 69 tofbinding post 70, by conductor sidewalk gate 10, and is operable by the bar.

outwardly of the post, the switch blade 130 will'reestablish the circuit connection, and the lights will-be lighted and remain sountil the return of the gates from operati-ve position. As shown Iin Fig. 8, this switch 129 is associated with the combined roadway and 28 of the ate section 18 thereof. A similar lighting circuit is also associated with the gates 11, 13, 15, and 17 ,g and their respective posts 2O and 37 are also provided with lamps 137, at their upper ends, and the circuit to .the same is as follows: Current will dow' from the positive side 63'of the current supply circuit by the wa Ysame purposes as is the switch'129of the combined roadway and sidewalk gate 10.

lriedy, the operation of the system is 'as follows z-An operator occupies the tower 62, and, with the ates 10, 12, 14 and 16 closing the street roaigiway sections a and o, and the sidewalks a"A and h thereof, the gates 11, 13, 15 and 17 are within their respective` post andthe street roadway sections fc and d', and the sidewalks' c and d" kthereof are open for the passage of traffic. To. open the gates 10, 12, 141 and 16, and simultaneously close the gates 11, 13, 15. and 17 the 'operator grasps the long arm 68,V ofthe rheostat' or switching device 66, and the similar arm 105 of the other 'device'lyand moves the 'same to full onA positions, when. both motor circuits will be energ1zed,.and`

the gateslO, 12,14 and'16 will move to positions within their respective post l20, and the tti i before indicated. When the respective setsy of. gates 10, 12,141 and 16, and 11, 13, 15 and gates 11,13, 15 and 17 outwardly to street roadway and sidewalk closing position, so

that street ro dway sections a and b. andtheir respect-i e sidewall; sections a and o' will be open o traffic, and the street roadm way sections c and d' andtheir sidewalk sections c and d closed to trame, as herein- 17 reach the limit of their movements, the switches 7 3 and 109 will be 'actuated to open the magnet circuit respectively of the rheostats or switching devices 60 and 61, and the switch Aarms 68 and 105 will be released to return to neutral or ed position, and ready for the alternate or reversing operation of the several gates. Also, upon the final inward movement ofv the gate section 18 of the gate 10, the lighting circuit of the lamps 127 will be opene ofconductors 136,. 133, 1t() and 141 and4 ack by way of con-- while with the initial inovement ofthe gate 'section13, of the gate 13,

outwardly of its post 20, the switch 137 will t5 be released to closethe lighting circuit to the lamps 131.`

The tower 62, is as her'einbefore stated, preferably located at the center of the crossing space of theintersecting streets, and, as shown in Fig; 410, the same is preferablyv in the form, of a closed compartment carried at the upper end of a single pedestal or post 147 an lentrance to the same isto be had through the medium of a ladder y1418 leading upwardly of the pedestal or post 14:7 and 'through a man hole in the door thereof. Y The tower 62 is preferably square in plan, and is provided with glass inclosed windows 1t-9 on all four sides, each facing a comple- 8o mental street section, so that an operator within the tower compartment may Abe able to have clear view of the entire crossing' space. The tower is preferably provded with a set of colored signal lamps, preferably red vin color, arranged in complemental pairs, as at 150 andl 151, the lamps 150 being at opposite sides of the tower compartment, so-that one can be observed from'the street section v a, and the vother from the street section b, au

while'the lamps 151 are similarly arranged so as to be observed, one from the street section c, and the other from the street section d. The pair 'of lamps150 are connected in circuit, one with the other,v by' means of con- 95 l ductors -1152 and 153-, to the'main leads .63 and 641 of the main current supply circuit vas at 154 and 155, and inserted into the conductor 152 is a control switch 156, while the .lamps 151 are likewise connected in circuit, loo

one-with the other, by means ofconductors 158 ,and 159, to the leads 63 and 511 of the' main supply circuit, asat 159 and 160, and similarly inserted into the 'conductor 158 is la control switch 161. It is desired to light tot 'the signal lamps 150 by the Aclosing of the switch'l156 about five seconds prior to the closing of the gates across the street sections ca -b, so as to warnl tradic and pedestrians,

particularly at night, that the gates of the 11o street sections are to be closed or are a1- ready closed, inasmuch as the lamps are to remain lighted just as long as their complemental street gatesv are closed. Similarly,-

.the lamps 151 are to be lighted by the clos'- l115 ing of the switch 161 ve seconds prior-to the closing of the gates of the street-sections c-d, and, of course, prior to theeXtinguishing of the lamps 150 and the simultaneous operation of the gates of both street 12e sections c-b and c-oL i From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent' that, the system `involved herein has incorporated within the same every feasible precaution against accidents occur- 12a rin at street crossings, both with regard to colllsions between vehicles, collisionsYbetween the gates in the operatlon of the same to open and closed positions with vehicles, and to the' down of pedestrians by the passing Vtem for street crossings, combined roadway and sidewalk gates arranged at corresponding cornersof a street crossing, sidewalk gates arranged alternately with respect to 'said combined roadway and sidewalk gates at corners of the street crossing opposite to the latter,4 and means for actuating said gates for the alternate opening and closing of the roadway and sidewalks of the intersecting streets of the crossing one with respect to the other.

2. In a trafiic control and regulating system for lstreet crossings, combined roadway and sidewalk gates arranged at corresponding corners of a street crossing, sidewalk 'gates arranged alternately with respect to said combined roadway and sidewalk gates at corners of the street crossing opposite to the latter, and electrical means for actuating said gates forthe alternate opening and closing of the roadways and sidewalks of the intersecting streets of the crossing one with respect to the other. Y

3. In a traffic control and regulating sys.

tem for street crossings, combined roadway and sidewalk gates .arranged at corresponding corners of a street crossing, sidewalk gates arranged alternatelywith respect to said combined roadway and sidewalk gates at cornersl of the street crossing opposite-to the latter, electrical meansfor actuatin said gates for the alternate opening an closing of the roadwa ys and sidewalks of the intersecting streets o the crossin one with respect to the other, and means ocated .at the center of the street crossing for controlling the operation of said electrical means.

4. In a trafiic lcontrol and regulating system for street crossings, expansible and contractible gates arranged at the opposite corners of a street crossing, an electric motor circuit for operating the gates on one of the intersecting streets of the street crossing, a second electric motor circuit for operatlng the gates of the other of the intersecting streets, and control devicesfor said electric motor circuits for effecting the alternate opening andl closing movements of said gates. Y

' 5. In a traffic control and regulatin 'system for street crossings, expansible an contractible gates arranged at the opposite corners of a street crossing, an electric motor circuit for operating the gates on one of the intersecting streets of the street crossing, a second electric motor circuit for operating the gates of the other of the intersecting streets, control devices for said electricl motor circuits for effecting the alternate opening and closing of said gates, and means operable .by the movements of certain of the gates for resetting said control devices for the successive operation of said gates.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature hereto.

FRANK WILLIAM SIMPSON. 

